Grassroots Advocacy: You Can Do It Session 146F Richard Schwalberg, Menorah Park Center for Senior Living Allison Salopek, Jennings Center for Older Adults Marsha Greenfield, LeadingAge

OBJECTIVES Practical Grass Roots Advocacy Campaigns Creative Ways to Reach Local, State and Federal Officials Tangible Campaign Materials and Templates

Introduction to “old fashioned” grass roots advocacy What is grass roots? – Campaign-like – Volume – show high level of support How? – Collaboration with other groups – magnify position – Letters and call-in campaigns – Visits to district offices/DC offices with like-minded folks Who? – You – Your staff and trustees – Your residents and families

Developing Relationships with State & Federal Officials Why? – Build support for your organization – Build support for the field – Build support for special legislation, issues How? – Taking advantage of the moment – Visits to your community – District visits during recess – Exotic moments that are not impossible – Care and feeding

Developing Relationships with State & Federal Officials Who? Partnering with your Board, Families, Staff and Communities – You – Your Board – Your families – Your staff – Education

LeadingAge Resources We help you be effective advocates!

Getting your message to the Hill

Getting YOU to the Hill

Getting Your Legislator to Your Community How To Host Your Legislators

Local Office Visits, too

Getting Everyone Involved It’s not just you!

Keeping You Informed MyLeadingAge.org – Listservs – Newsletters – LeadingAge This Week Legislation and Issue Briefs webpage – Senior Action Network

Your LeadingAge Contacts Niles Godes, SVP, Congressional Affairs – Marsha Greenfield, VP, Legislative Affairs – Marsha Padilla-Goad, Director, Grassroots and Member Engagement –

PUT THE TOOLS TO USE Plan a visit to your community with a key legislator – How will you get them there? – What will you do during the visit and who will be included? – What will be your follow-up/cultivation plan after? Your community has a hot issue and you need some legislative attention – Who do you access? Call/visit/reach out to other members/what legislative body or committee do you start with?

Joining Forces with Leading Age Members Opportunities with State Associations Advocacy Committees, Task Forces, Utilize local staff Opportunities with National Association- PEAK, Public Policy Congress, Advocacy- calls for responses, reviews